Read Just a Little Hope Online
Authors: Amy J. Norris
Just a Little Hope (19 page)
Carter looked forward to the long hot shower he knew awaited him. The day's game had been good. They'd won, but he felt like he'd had to battle the sun every minute. He'd made a couple of highlight-reel catches in the outfield, but at the moment, his body was paying the price of landing hard on the turf a few times.
Eric sat on the bench in front of the adjoining locker, rubbing a game-used baseball in his hand. “Man. That was fun. But I'm exhausted.”
“I'm glad you got to play a couple of innings. And getting your first hit in the big leagues⦠Awesome, man! What are you going to do to celebrate?”
“I think I'm going back to the hotel and swim a few laps in the pool and then call my mom.”
Carter slapped him on the back and laughed. “You might want to rethink the order of those things. I'm sure your mom is anxious to talk to you. Are you sure you don't want to go out and get some dinner or something?”
“Nah, man. I think I'd like to have a quiet night in. Well, I say quiet. My phone is blowing up with text messages right now. I better grab a shower and get out of here. It's going to take me a few hours to respond to all of these. See ya', man.”
“You bet, E. Congrats again, bro.”
Carter grabbed his phone off the shelf in his locker and checked his messages. He smiled to see there was one from Tori.
Good game, fella. But I bet you're one big bruise right now. How about we go someplace close for dinner? I'll meet you when you're done.
Carter loved how she knew what he needed. A nice quiet evening was it. He went to the showers with a smile on his face.
A short while later, refreshed from the hot water pounding him, Carter turned the corner and grinned when he saw Tori waiting in the chairs outside the locker room. She hadn't seen him yet and instead was typing away on her cell phone, engrossed in an email or text message.
“Hey, beautiful. How's it going?”
Tori's smile lit up the room, and Carter's spirits lifted the instant her eyes caught his.
Stowing her phone in her purse, Tori stood and pressed a soft kiss to his lips. Her eyes filled with concern as she touched his cheek. “Hey, slugger. I think you're going to have a nice bruise there. You aren't supposed to catch the ball with your face, you know? How are you feeling?”
Carter winced as he tried to move his neck around. “Well, embarrassed from letting the ball take such a wicked bounce on me. And a little stiff, but nothing a quiet night out with you won't fix.”
Tori gave him a smile and another kiss on the cheek before slipping her arm through his as they walked out toward the player's parking lot.
“I was thinking. Why don't we get some take-out and go back to your place? Is that okay?”
He squeezed her hand. “That sounds wonderful, babe. Why don't I call us in a pizza from Imo's, and we can go by and pick it up?”
“Deal. You get whatever you want. I'm not picky tonight.”
“Wow. That's awfully nice of you!”
“Well, I reckon I feel sorry for you since you're moving like a ninety-six-year-old man at the moment.”
Carter threw back his head and laughed. Squeezing her closer to him, he smiled. “Touché, babe. Touché.”
After a brief stop at the pizza place around the corner from his apartment, they waited at the elevator.
“I've been meaning to ask you about Eric. He seemed troubled some last night. Did something happen in his past?”
The elevator doors opened, and they stepped inside. Carter punched the button for his floor.
“Yeah. He lost his Dad a few years ago to lung cancer. He suffered quite a while with it, I think. It was pretty hard on the whole family, but especially Eric. He's the only boy in the family, and he and his dad were close.”
“Oh, how terrible. What a hard thing for a young man to go through. I'm glad I don't have to worry about anything like that with you. You keep being healthy, okay? Although this pizza might not have been the best option, now that I think about it. Perhaps we should find a good salad somewhere.”
Carter stopped in his tracks.
Tori turned and looked at him. “Oh, Carter, I'm not being serious. We don't have to eat a salad tonight.”
Internally he let out a huge sigh of relief, thankful she didn't understand his real shock at her statement. He was going to have to tell her, and soon.
When they arrived on his floor, he reached in his pocket for his keys. They turned the corner to approach his apartment when he almost dropped the pizza box.
His eyes had to be betraying him. There was no way it could be who he thought it was. No way.
“Is that a girl sitting outside your door? Do you know her? It's not a crazed fan, is it? Do I need to call 9-1-1? Carter?”
He closed his eyes and released a deep breath. “You don't have to call 9-1-1. I know who that is.”
“You do? Who is she?”
He didn't answer.
“Carter?”
“Dani, my sister.”
****
The tension was thick, and Tori felt like she was walking on eggshells around Carter and his surprise visitor. His sister was a thin lanky girl with limp blonde hair. Her eyes, though blue like her brother's, lacked their spark. Instead, they were dull and tired. It was as if three lifetimes had been lived in those eyes.
Dani greeted Carter like he'd be happy to see her, and Tori thought he'd react the same way. Yet, when Dani threw her arms around her brother's shoulders, he didn't move a muscle. Dani pulled away and frowned and then stuck out her hand toward Tori.
“Hi! I'm Danielle, but everyone calls me Dani. I guess my older brother is in too much of a shock to introduce us.”
Tori hazarded a glance in Carter's direction. His handsome features were frozen in place. Swallowing hard, Tori turned back to Dani and returned her handshake.
“Hi, Dani. I'm Tori, Carter's girlfriend.”
Dani stepped back and crossed her arms then looked Tori up and down. “Oh! So you're the one I've heard about. The one with the money?”
Puzzled by her statement, Tori glanced in Carter's direction. His only movement was his Adam's apple going up and down as he swallowed. Tori didn't know what to make of things and chose to just leave it alone.
“Well, why don't we go inside, and we can get to know each other better, Dani. C'mon, Carter.”
Carter closed his eyes and then walked stiffly down the hall. He unlocked the door and then held it open for Tori and Dani.
Dani picked up a small duffle bag off the floor by the door and sauntered in. Tori could see the anger and a hint of sadness filling Carter's eyes as she walked past. What in the world had happened between these two?
“So, what brings you here, Dani? Carter mentioned you were working in a café in Oklahoma?”
“She got fired.” The hardness of Carter's tone didn't escape Tori's notice.
“Oh.”
“Now listen, CJ. We went over this. I didn't get fired exactly. I quit.”
“Sure.” Carter threw his keys on the table beside the door. So, what do you want?”
Dani put her hand over her heart like she'd been shot. “What kind of a welcome is that, brother? Here I've come all this way to surprise you, and you don't act too happy to see me.”
If fire had come from Carter's eyes at that moment, Tori wouldn't have been surprised. She had never seen him so angry.
She attempted to intervene. “Um, Dani. I'm sure you're tired after your trip. Why don't you throw your things in Carter's bedroom and freshen up? I'll see what your brother has around here to offer up for a beverage.”
“Yeah, sure. I guess you don't have a beer around do you, brother?”
“Dani.”
“I figured as much. I'll be out in a minute.”
She snatched up her duffle bag, threw the strap over her shoulder, and marched down the hall to Carter's bedroom. The harsh slam of the door split the tense silence.
Carter didn't move from his spot, only closed his eyes and hung his head. Tori wasn't sure what to do next, so she didn't say a word but instead bit her lip to calm her nerves.
After a moment, Carter raised his head, his blue eyes swimming in sadness. “I'm so sorry, Tori. I never thought she would show up here.”
Tori reached over to take his hand. “It's okay, Carter. She's your sister. I don't mind that she's here.”
Carter dropped her hand and stalked over to the window. “That's just it, Tori.
I
mind that she's here. Dani's⦠well, Dani's got some issues, and I try and stay out of them as much as I can. But it's hard, you know. I love her, but she â she makes terrible decisions. And there's stuff in our past.”
Tori walked over to him and put her arms around his waist, pressing her face into his back. She stayed there for a minute before pulling back.
“I'm sorry her being here makes you sad, Carter. I wish it could be different between the two of you. What can I do to make it better?”
He turned around and faced her. Carter pressed his hand to her cheek and sighed. “There's nothing any of us can do until she realizes she needs to change things. Until that happens, we're in the roller coaster ride that's her life. Always ups and downs. Never any smooth sailing it seems.”
Tori gathered Carter in her arms and held him close. She tried to express her support through her touch.
“Well, aren't you two just the cutest thing.”
They jerked apart at the sound of Dani's voice. Carter pulled away from Tori's arms and walked toward his sister.
“So, what's going on? Why are you here? Have you told Mom and Dad where you are?”
“What's with the inquisition? Can't a girl just come visit her brother without getting the third degree?”
“I don't know. Can't a girl live her life in a normal manner every now and then without wrapping her family up in her constant drama?”
Dani's eyes narrowed at Carter's words. Tori needed to cut the tension somehow.
“Hey, um, are you hungry? We brought some pizza with us.”
Carter's sister tilted her head and sighed. “Sure. Why not?”
“Great. I'll get us some plates and napkins. Carter, can you pour us some sodas? Just pick any place at the table, Dani. We'll be right back.”
Tori tugged on Carter's hand and pulled him into the kitchen. “I know you want to figure out what's going on, Carter, but riling her up isn't going to help.”
He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “I know. I know. Just give me a minute to get my emotions under control. I need to text Mom and Dad, too, and let them know where she is. I know they're worried.”
“You do that, and we'll go ahead and start eating.” She picked up the plates.
Carter caught her arm. “Hey, thanks for being so understanding about all of this. I'm sorry I'm not pleasant to be around just now. I'll do better. I promise.”
Tori gave him a small smile and a slight nod of her head and continued to the other room.
“Here we go. I hope you like supreme meaty pizzas. I let Carter pick out whatever he wanted this time. He had an intense game today. I guess I was feeling generous.”
“Hmm. Carter always gets what he wants at home. Why should anything change here?”
Tori sat back in surprise. “I'm sorry. What?”
Dani grabbed a piece of pizza and picked off the meat, eating it by itself. “Carter. He's always gotten what he wanted. Ever since he was little. Our parents doted on him like he was a little king.”
Tori shook her head. “Oh, okay.”
Dani continued to eat her pizza. “So, what's your story, Tori?”
“What's my story?”
“Yeah. Everyone's got a story. I'm sure Carter's told you mine. I'm the poor sister who can't seem to find a good job or boyfriend. I'm always making dumb mistakes. You know, never good enough for him.”
Tori chose to ignore Dani's last few statements. The bitterness Dani had toward Carter and the rest of their family surprised her.
“Well, Dani, I don't know if I have a story or anything. I met your brother a few months ago through some mutual friends. I've enjoyed getting to know him. He's been wonderful since my dad got sick a few weeks ago.”
“Your dad got sick?”
“Yes. He was diagnosed with cancer. Carter's been a real godsend.”
Dani sat back in her chair and licked her fingers. “Well, it's not anything he hasn't gone through before.”
Bringing a piece of pizza to her mouth, Tori paused at Dani's statement. “What do you mean by that?”
“Dani!”
Carter stood in the doorway, his face red with anger.
“What's wrong, brother? I'm only telling the truth.”
Tori glanced at Dani and then back to Carter. “What's she talking about, Carter?”
“It's nothing, Tori. Don't worry about it.”
“I wouldn't say cancer is nothing, bro. Mom and Dad just knew their perfect angel was going to die.”
Tori's heart stopped at Dani's words. Cancer? Carter had cancer? And he never thought to tell her?
“Carter? Is that true? Did you have cancer?”
He closed his eyes, and after a minute he nodded in response.
“Yep. CJ had some kind of renal cancer when he was just a little guy. Had to take one of his kidneys to get the tumor. Most people are shocked when they find out you can play professional baseball with only one kidney. But good old CJ, he's proof of that. He's got a pretty nice scar on his back from it, too.”
Suddenly, Tori flashed back to the morning of their argument. When they'd been kissing on the couch, she'd reached under his shirt and remembered feeling something strange on his skin. When that had happened, Carter jumped away from her.
“That's what I felt the day my parents' left, wasn't it, Carter?”
He wouldn't look at her.
“Tell me, Carter. You knew I felt your scar, and you didn't want to tell me what it was. That's why you
really
pulled away that morning.”
“That's not the only reason, Tori, and you know it.”
“But you deliberately refused to tell me when I asked you about it. Why, Carter? Why would you do that?”
Carter walked across the room, sat on the couch and put his head in his hands.
“I didn't want to upset you any more. You've been so adamant about me being healthy because you didn't want to deal with anyone else getting sick. How could I tell you I'd had cancer once, too?”
“So you did it to protect me? Or was it actually to protect you, Carter? Is this the ânot so big deal' you didn't want to talk to me about? Well, you're nuts if you think this isn't a big deal, Carter. It's a very big deal.”
“Your reaction is exactly why I didn't want to say anything.”
Tori threw down her napkin and slid back from the table.
“Were you ever going to tell me, Carter, or would we have kept going on our merry way, with me in complete oblivion? How could you not think this was something I needed to know?”
“I don't know Tori. There just never seemed to be a good time to bring it up.”
“Never a good time! How about when my mom called to say my dad was in the hospital awaiting a brain operation? Or maybe after his surgery was over? Or, I don't know, maybe the morning when I was so beside myself with sorrow. None of those times were âthe right time'?”
“I was afraid it would upset you even more. Can't you see? You were already hurting so much. How could I tell you something that might tear you down even more than you already were? You might have left me because of it.”
Tori paced across the room and looked at Dani who sat at the table, eyes wide.
“I think that's the answer we're looking for, Carter. You were afraid I would leave you if you told me the truth. Well, you've got that right, buster. I'm hurt you couldn't trust me enough to tell me⦠to share this part of your life with me.”
Carter leapt off the couch and grabbed her arm. “Tori, wait!”
“Let me go, Carter.” She wrenched free of his grasp. “You see, I thought you and I could handle anything. As strong as you were for me, apparently you didn't think I could be strong for you. If you can't trust me with this kind of information, how can I believe you won't trust me with other aspects of your life? I hoped there was a future for us. I hoped you would be the one I could count on for the rest of my life. I guess I hoped in vain.”
Snatching her purse off the coffee table, Tori then ran to the door, refusing to face him. “Don't call me. Don't text me. Just give me some time, Carter.”
She walked out the door, slamming it behind her.